Runway clearing apparatus for snow and ice



July 27, 1965 J. J. FAYED 3,196,863

RUNWAY CLEARING APPARATUS FOR sNow AND ICE Filed July 23, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

, JAMES J FAYED BY a A TTORNEYS July 27, 1965 J. J. FAYED RUNWAY CLEARING APPARATUS FOR SNOW AND ICE Filed July 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JAMES Jv FAYED Mfg A TTORNEYS United States Patent 3,196,863 RUNWAY CLEARING APPARATUS FOR SNUW AND ICE Blames J. Fayed, 7001 413th Ave, Hyattsville, Md. Filed .Iuiy 23, 1962, Ser. No. 211,590 Claims. (Cl. 126-2712) The present invention relates to apparatus for clearing a surface that is exposed to the weather such as a road or an airport runway. More particularly, the present invention relates to the removal of snow and ice from a runway.

The need for apparatus which would maintain runways usable under severe climatic conditions has long been recognized. This problem is especially acute in arctic regions, and at military airports where aircraft must be able to take off and land at all times.

Many proposals have been set forth to solve this problem, and some have met with limited success. Such proposals have included the use of freezing point depressants, heating means embedded within the runway, vehicle or tractor mounted heaters and snow plows or blowers for removing accumulated snow. In installing heating means within the runway, the prior art has proposed heating systems extending the length of the runway such as steam coils, electrical heating elements, and conduits for heated gases. Such heating systems cannot readily be incorporated into existing runways.

In spite of the number of known approaches to the problem, it has generally been found necessary to resort to the use of vehicle mounted plows or other snow removal equipment. Usually several vehicles working together are required, and even then it is often impossible to keep the runway clear during a severe storm.

In contrast to the above, the present invention provides a plurality of spaced heating assemblies extending across the runway which are movable in predetermined sequence over sections of the runway during operation. When inoperative, the assemblies are housed in channel-like recesses extending transversely across a runway with the tops of the assemblies flush with adjacent portions of the runway so that the wheels of aircraft may roll thereover without obstruction. The assemblies are each provided with a plurality of spaced burner members discharging hot gases against the surface of the runway, and preferably also with blower means effective to blow melted snow and ice off the runway. The operating cycle of the heating assemblies is preferably controlled by an operator in the control tower so that during storms the assemblies may be in operation except when aircraft are actually landing or taking off. Since aircraft normally land at predetermined intervals, an operator in the control tower or elsewhere could start the operating sequence of the heating assemblies immediately after one aircraft had landed and taxied off the runway, and return the assemblies to their recessed positions before the next aircraft reached the runway. It will be appreciated that the clearing and removal operation in accordance with the present invention may be instigated immediately upon snow or ice beginning to accumulate. There are no delays while personnel are located as is the case when vehicle mounted equipment are utilized. It will also be appreciated that there are essentially no labor costs attributable to the removal system since the system is controlled by an operator who would be present in any event in the control tower.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide improved apparatus for removing snow and ice from airport runways and the like which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art.

It is another object of the present invention to pro- "ice vide apparatus for removing snow and ice from runways which may be readily installed at existing runways.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide movable snow and ice removing apparatus which is remotely controlled and which may traverse selected portions of a runway in predetermined sequence.

A further object of the present invention is to provide heating assemblies for runways which are recessed within the runway when inoperative.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide movable heating assemblies for runways with blower means to dispel melted snow and ice from the runways.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of an airport runway provided with heating assemblies in accordance with the present invention, and wherein one assembly is shown in an elevated operative position and a second assembly is shown in a recessed inoperative position,

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a portion of the runway showing the heating assemblies in operative positions,

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view through one of the channel-like recesses in the runway with the heating assembly being shown out of the recess preparatory to commencing operation, and with portions of the heating assembly broken away, to illustrate the details thereof,

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view along the line 44 of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 4a is a longitudinal sectional view substantially corresponding to FIGURE 4 but with the heating assembly shown in its retracted inoperative position, and

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taking substantially along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3 but with the heating assembly shown as just having commenced its movement along the runway.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGURE 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates heating assemblies adapted to longitudinally traverse an airport runway 12 along suitable guide means G at each side of the runway. The movement of heating assemblies 10 over guide means G which will be described in detail hereinafter, is remotely controlled as from the control tower of the airport.

When inoperative, the heating assemblies are housed for ready accessibility within transverse channel like recesses 14 in the runway with a flat upper surface 16 of each heating assembly effectively forming part of the runway.

The mechanism for elevating the heating assemblies out of recesses 14 are best shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 4a, and include at each end of the heating assemblies a hydraulic or pneumatically operated piston cylinder 18 having a piston rod 20 secured in any suitable manner to a vertically adjustable section 22 of guide means G.

Guide means G are partially recessed within longitudinal service trenches 24 at opposite sides of the runway, and in the illustrated embodiment include a gear track 26 parallel to a guide rail 28. Each heating assembly 10 is provided adjacent the bottom thereof with a gear wheel 30 engaging gear track 26 and with a pair of rollers 32 forming a carriage supported upon guide rail 28. A motor 34 is mounted upon an angle iron 36 at the bottom of the heating assembly or is otherwise suitably secured thereto. Motor 34 is provided with suitable reduction gearing and shaft means connected to gear wheel 30 to positively drive the heating assembly in a predetermined sequence over the runway at appropriate speeds, for exame) pie 5 to 50 mph Suitable drainage means not shown may be provided where necessary in recesses 14 and trenches 24 to receive melted snow and ice.

As shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, recesses 14 are enlarged at one end thereof to provide a storage area 33 accommodating a supply reel 40 upon which is wound a flexible cable 42. Cable 42 includes electrical conduits leading to motors 34 as well as a fuel supply line to be described hereinafter. The cable is adapted to be unwound from the supply reel as the heating assembly moves down the runway, and to be rewound upon the supply reel as the heating assembly moves back towards its initial position. Cable guide means as well as rewinding means for reel 49 may be provided as desired and may be of any known construction suitable for the task.

The heating assemblies 10 consist essentially of frame means such as a hollow casing 41 provided at the bottom thereof with hood shaped burner chambers 43 adapted to discharge combustion gases against the surface of the runway, and with blower ducts 44 adapted to discharge high velocity air upon the runway in a region behind the region of the discharge from burner chambers 43 so as to blow melted snow and ice off the runway. The discharged air velocity may be in the order of several hundred mph. The discharge of ducts 44 is preferably at an angle to the direction of movement of the blower assembly to direct water off the runway. A burner head 46 of any suitable construction is provided within each burner chamber 43 and is supplied with fuel from cable 42 via pipes 48 and suitable metering devices 50. Ignition means such as spark initiating devices not shown may also be provided.

Air for blower ducts 44 is sucked through screened inlets 52 into fan housings 54 at opposite ends of casing 41. A centrifugal fan of known construction within fan housing 54 discharges pressurized air into casing 41 for delivery to ducts 44. A portion of the pressurized air may also be used to support combustion in burner chambers 43, and for this purpose apertures 56 are provided in the vicinity of pipes 48 leading to the combustion chambers.

The burners and/or blower ducts adjacent the ends of the heating assemblies are preferably constructed so that at least a portion of the combustion gas and/ or air discharge may be used to keep guide means G clear.

To operate the heating assemblies, an operator by remote control actuates piston cylinders 18 to elevate heating assemblies 10 out of recesses 14. The burners are ignited, and the heating assemblies It) then travel along guide means G in accordance with the predetermined sequence dictated by the control means. Control means capable of programming such a sequence are known in the art and do not per se form part of the present invention and are accordingly not further described. The selected sequence of operation preferably calls for the paths of travel of adjacent heating assemblies to overlap somewhat.

If the span of assemblies 10 is too large tobe adequately supported only at its ends, pneumatic wheels'engaging the runway may be provided intermediate the length thereof by removing one or more burners, or by changing the spacing of the burners.

It will be appreciated that the distance between recesses 14 as well as the size and capacity of the burners and blowers is initially selected in accordance with the most severe climatic conditions anticipated in the particular locale. For example, pneumatic motors may be substituted for the illustrated electric motors. Also, a standby generator is preferably available for use in the event of a power failure. When operating under less severe conditions, the fuel flow to the burners and the speed'of travel of the heating assemblies may be reduced accordingly.

From the above, it is evident that the present invention is susceptible of many changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. Furthermore, the heating assemblies may be positioned in spaced pairs with the assemblies of each pair being adjacent to each other and moving in tandem to provide greater removal capacity. Whereas the air inlets to the fans are shown at the ends of the heating assemblies, individual inlets and fans for the several ducts may be provided along the length of the heating assemblies. Additionally, securing means may be provided along the length of the heating assemblies to enable snow plows to be mounted thereupon.

Accordingly it is intended to encompass all such changes and modifications as are within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a runway provided with a plurality of transverse recesses therein, snow and ice removal equipment comprising a heating assembly housed within each recess in an inoperative position thereof, each assembly including frame means having an upper surface essentially flush with adjacent surfaces of the runway when in said inoperative position, a plurality of heating means spaced along said frame means, means operative to raise said assemblies from said recesses and to lower said assemblies into said recesses, guide means extending longitudinally alongside the runway and supporting thereon said assemblies, and means including control means to move said assemblies along said guide means over respective portions of said runway.

2. In combination with a runway provided with a plurality of transverse recesses therein, snow and ice removal equipment comprising a heating assembly housed within each recess in an inoperative position thereof, each assembly including frame means having an upper surface essentially flush with adjacent surfaces of the runway when in said inoperative position, a plurality of heating means spaced along said frame means, a plurality of blower ducts spaced along said frame means and discharging downwardly against said runway, means operative to raise said assemblies from said recesses and to lower said assemblies into said recesses, guide means extending longitudinally alongside the runway and supporting thereon said assemblies, and means including control means to move said assemblies along said guide means over respective portions of said runway.

3. In combination with a runway provided with a plurality of transverse recesses therein, snow and ice removal equipment comprising a heating assembly housed within each recess in an inoperative position thereof, each assembly including frame means having an upper surface essentially flush with adjacent surfaces of the runway when in said inoperative position, a plurality of heating means spaced along said frame means, said heating means including combustion chamber means discharging combustion gases against said runway, means operative to raise said assemblies from said recesses and to lower said assemblies into said recesses, guide means extending longitudinally alongside the runway and supporting thereon said assemblies, and means including control means to move said assemblies along said guide means over respective portions of said runway.

4. In combination with a runway provided with a plurality of transverse recesses therein, snow and ice removal equipment comprising a heating assembly housed within each recess in an inoperative position, each assembly having an upper surface essentially flush with adjacent surfaces of the runway when in said inoperative position, a plurality of heating means spaced along each assembly, said heating means including combustion chamber means discharging combustion gases against said runway, cylinder means operative to raise said assemblies from said recesses and to lower said assemblies into said recesses, guide means extending longitudinally along the sides of the runway and supporting thereon said assemblies, and means including control means to move said assemblies along said guide means.

5'. In combination with a runway provided with a.

plurality of transverse recesses therein, snow and ice removal equipment comprising a heating assembly housed within each recess in an inoperative position, each assembly having an upper surface essentially flush with adjacent surfaces of the runway when in said inoperative position, a plurality of heating means spaced along each assembly, said heating means including combustion chamber means discharging combustion gases against said runway, a plurality of blower ducts spaced along each assembly and discharging downwardly against said runway, cylinder means operative to raise said assemblies from said recesses and to lower said assemblies into said recesses, guide means extending longitudinally along the sides of the runway and supporting thereon said assemblies, and means including control means to move said assemblies along said guide means in predetermined sequence over respective portions of said runway.

6. In combination with a runway provided with a plurality of transverse recesses therein, snow and ice removal equipment comprising a heating assembly housed within each recess in an inoperative position thereof, each assembly including a plurality of heating means spaced along said assembly, means operative to raise said assemblies from said recesses and to lower said assemblies into said recesses, guide means extending longitudinally along the sides of the runway and supporting thereon said assemblies, and means to move said assemblies along said guide means over portions of said runway.

7. In combination with a runway provided with a plurality of transverse recesses therein, snow and ice removal equipment comprising a heating assembly housed within each recess in an inoperative position thereof, each assembly including a plurality of heating means spaced along said assembly, a plurality of blower ducts spaced along each said assembly and discharging downwardly against said runway, means operative to raise said assemblies from said recesses and to lower said assemblies into said recesses, guide means extending longitudinally along the side of the runway and supporting thereon said assemblies, and means to move said assemblies along said guide means over portions of said runway.

8. In combination with a runway provided with a plurality of transverse recesses therein, snow and ice removal equipment comprising a heating assembly housed within each recess in an inoperative position thereof, each assembly including a plurality of heating means spaced along said assembly, said heating means including combustion chamber means discharging combustion gases against said runway, means operative to raise said assemblies from said recessses and to lower said assemblies into said recesses, guide means extending longitudinally along the sides of the runway and supporting thereon said assemblies, and means to move said assemblies along said guide means over portions of said runway.

9. In combination with a runway provided with a plurality of spaced channel-like recesses therein, a runway clearing assembly housed within each recess in an inoperative position thereof, means to raise and lower said assemblies out of and into said recesses, and means to move said assemblies along respective portions of said runway upon raising of said assemblies out of said recesses.

10. In combination with a runway provided with a plurality of spaced channel-like transverse recesses therein, a runway clearing assembly housed within each recess in an inoperative position thereof, each assembly having a substantially flat top surface essentially flush with adjacent surfaces of the runway in said inoperative position, means to raise and lower said assemblies out of and into said recesses, and means to move said assemblies over respective portions of said runway upon raising of said assemblies out of said recesses.

11. In combination with a runway provided with a plurality of spaced channel-like recesses therein, a plurality of spaced heating assemblies, each heating assembly extending transversely across the runway and adapted to be housed in an inoperative position within a respective one of said channel-like recesses means, to enable said heating assemblies to be raised out of and lowered into the recesses, and means including guide means to enable said heating assemblies to traverse respective portions of the runway.

12. In combination with a runway provided with a plurality of spaced channel-like recesses therein, a plurality of spaced heating assemblies, each heating assembly extending transversely across the runway and adapted to be housed in an inoperative position within a respective one of said channel-like recesses, means to enable said heating assemblies to be raised out of and lowered into the recesses, each heating assembly including a plurality of burner elements adapted to discharge downwardly, and means including guide means to enable said heating assemblies to traverse respective portions of the runway.

13. In combination with a runway provided with a plurality of spaced channel-like recesses, a plurality of spaced heating assemblies, each heating assembly extending transversely across the runway and adapted to be housed in an inoperative position within a respective one of said channel-like recesses, means to enable said heating assemblies to be raised out of and lowered into the recesses, each heating assembly including a plurality of burner elements adapted to discharge downwardly, each heating assembly further including a plurality of blower elements discharging high velocity air towards the runway, and means including guide means to enable said heating assemblies to traverse respective portions of the runway.

14-. In combination with a runway provided with a channel-like recess, a heating assembly adapted to be housed in an inoperative position within said recess, means to enable said heating assembly to be raised out of and lowered into said recess, said heating assembly including a plurality of burner elements adapted to discharge downwardly, said heating assembly further including a plurality of blower elements discharging compressed air towards the runway, and means including guide means adapted to enable said heating assembly to traverse portion-s of the runway.

15. In combination with a runway provided with a plurality of channel-like recesses, a plurality of spaced heating assemblies, each heating assembly adapted to be housed within a respective one of said channel-like recesses when inoperative, means to enable said heating assemblies to be raised out of and lowered into the recesses, each heating assembly including a plurality of downwardly directed heating elements, and means including guide means to enable said heating assemblies to traverse portions of the runway.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 506,497 10/93 Healy et a1. 126-2712 582,420 5/97 Hancock 126-271.2 1,857,603 5/32 Peters 126--271.2 2,634,659 4/53 Jordanofl 94-4 3,034,498 5/62 Gillum 126-2712 JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A RUNWAY PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSE RECESSES THEREIN, SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL EQUIPMENT COMPRISING A HEATING ASSEMBLY HOUSED WITHIN EACH RECESS IN AN INOPERATIVE POSITION THEREOF, EACH ASSEMBLY INCLUDING FRAME MEANS HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE ESSENTIALLY FLUSH WITH ADJACENT SURFACES OF THE RUNWAY WHEN IN SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION, A PLURALITY OF HEATING MEANS SPACED ALONG SAID FRAME MEANS, MEANS OPERATIVE TO RAISE SAID ASSEMBLIES FROM SAID RECESSES AND TO LOWER SAID ASSEMBLIES INTO SAID RECESSES, GUIDE MEANS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY ALONGSIDE THE RUNWAY AND SUPPORTING THEREON SAID ASSEMBLIES, AND MEANS INCLUDING CONTROL MEANS TO MOVE SAID ASSEMBLIES ALONG SAID GUIDE MEANS OVER RESPECTIVE PORTIONS OF SAID RUNWAY. 